Henley Boat Races, March 22, 1998 Cambridge 3, Oxford 1 Christopher Dodd on the women's and lightweight battle of the Blues Cambridge brought their winning run to seven in the Women's Boat Race, surprising themselves by springing away from the stakeboat to earn a canvas lead in the first few strokes. They extended this to half a length by the end of the regatta enclosures, this race being run with the stream for 2000 metres from the Royal Regatta finish to Temple Island. At Remenham they had a three quarters of a length advantage, and at the Barrier they had clear water after being warned for steering by umpire Fred Smallbone. The final verdict was one and a quarter lengths. Coach Ron Needs said: "We treated this as if it was a 2000 metre race in the world championships. You need an extra edge in the early part because a two-horse race is a bit different. We took the lead sooner than we expected, settled well and stuck to it." Cambridge's reserves, Blondie, all turned blonde for the day and extended their run of wins against Osiris to nine, while the lightweight men from the Cam won a tight race by half a length to bring their total to 18 against Oxford's six in the series. Cambridge's perfect day was interrupted by Oxford's lightweight women in a boat called One Hundred Good Men. They led all the way to a photo finish which gave them a verdict of a canvas. Henley Boat Races (2000m) Women's Boat Race: Cambridge bt Oxford, 1.25 lengths, 6 mins 25 secs Reserves race: Blondie (Cambridge) bt Osiris (Oxford), 4 lengths, 6 mins 32 secs Women's lightweights: Oxford bt Cambridge, canvas, 6 mins 36 secs Men's lightweights: Cambridge bt Oxford, 0.5 length, 5 mins 45 secs Battle of the Blues (1998) Blue boats since 1927: Oxford 17, Cambridge 36 Osiris v Blondie since 1966: Osiris 6, Blondie 20 Lightweight women since 1984: Oxford 3, Cambridge 12 Lightweight men since 1975: Oxford 6, Cambridge 18 Blue Boat crews Oxford - Bow Sarah Cornick (Lady Eleanor Holles and St Peter's), Rebecca Groocock (Godolphin & Latymer and Green), Ruth Willott (Bishop Reindorp Sch and Corpus Christi), Karen Jones (Brockenhurst 6th Form Coll and Pembroke), Claire Green (Farnborough Hill Sch and Pembroke), Alexa Homan (Beaconsfield HS and St John's), Nicola Waddell (Godalming 6th Form Coll and Brasenose), stroke Helen Casey (Colchester 6th Form Coll and Worcester), cox Jacqueline Potts (Howard of Effingham Sch and Magdalen). Cambridge - Bow Hilary Jones (Northwood Coll and Emmanuel), Jennifer Fox (Richmond Tertiary Coll and Robinson), Lucy Stamp (Wycombe Abbey and Wolfson), Anne Marie Pallister (St Leonards RC Comp and Magdalene), Lucy De Las Casas (Norwich HS and Downing), Nikki Brotton (Hills Road 6th Form Coll and St John's), Emily Grabham (Queen Elizabeth HS Hexham and St John's), stroke Kat Astley (Stratford Girls GS and Queens'), cox Brad Parr (Univ of Toronto High School, Canada, and Trinity). © Copyright Christopher Dodd, 1998.